A pregame rain delay of one hour and 42 minutes didn’t bother the Asheville Tourists (26-6, 67-34) on Monday afternoon, as four Tourists pitchers combined to shut out the Greenville Drive (7-25, 41-60) 2-0 to complete a series sweep.
Drive starter Jamie Callahan and Tourists starter Antonio Senzatela matched each other pitch-for-pitch, keeping their opponents off the scoreboard until high pitch counts knocked them both out after five innings. Callahan struck out seven and allowed just three hits and three walks, while Senzatela struck out five while giving up three hits and two walks.
The Tourists struck for single runs in the seventh and eighth innings against Drive reliever Sergio Gomez (1-2). Both runs came following leadoff walks, as Ryan McMahon drew a free pass in the seventh and later scored on Ashley Graeter’s sacrifice fly, and David Dahl walked in the eighth and scored on McMahon’s RBI groundout.
Matt Pierpont (1-0) worked two scoreless frames to earn the victory for Asheville, and Carlos Estevez and Dylan Stamey completed the shutout, with Stamey earning his 11th save.
Hector Lorenzana was the lone Drive batter with a two-hit game.
Following an off day on Tuesday, the Drive will begin a seven-game Northern Division road trip. The first stop is New Jersey for a three-game series against the Lakewood BlueClaws. First pitch for Wednesday’s game is at 11:05 AM. LH Daniel McGrath (4-4, 3.65) will start for the Drive, while the BlueClaws will send LH Yoel Mecias (1-0, 0.00) to the mound.
(Written by Cameron White / Greenville Drive.)